Car makes coast-to-coast trek - once a century

The 25-horsepower Talbot first drove from Adelaide to Darwin a century ago

History Trust SA

Historic car enthusiasts are re-creating a journey from Adelaide to Darwin to mark 100 years since the first successful road trip north.

But the original 1908 Talbot is to make most of its second journey on the back of a truck.

Allison Russell, from the National Motor Museum in the Adelaide Hills, says the trek started in Adelaide this week and will closely follow the original route of the 25-horsepower vehicle.

"We're following the route as closely as we can, which is up through South Australia's mid-north and then the Oodnadatta track before we join the highway at Marla and then follow on to Darwin," she said.

"We are driving it [Talbot] on a few occasions and it's still in running order, but our priority I guess as a museum is to make sure that it's still in good working order in 100 years' time to celebrate the 200th anniversary."

The original journey took 51 days, involving 42 days of actual driving.

It was the second attempt, after a bid in 1907 was thwarted by the wet season.